A new version of the Belgian national anthem for EURO 2021

Brussels, 11 June 2021 – Belgium is known for its amazing supporters. They are loud and enthusiastic, but do they all know the words of the national anthem that is sung at the start of each match? STIB, the Brussels public transport, is determined to help them shine and get all of Brussels and Belgium dancing to the beat of its 'New Brabançonne'. You've never heard the national anthem like this before...

​Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté ! Sounds familiar? Of course, these are the most famous words in the national anthem of Belgium. But if you were to sing the rest, chances are you would not get much further than "lalala", like most Devils supporters. Well, with a Dutch and a French version, and a weak melody line (dixit Christophe Pirenne, musicologist in Le Soir) you can hardly blame us.

At the start of EURO 2021, STIB comes right on time with its New Brabançonne. By remixing the national anthem into a Brussels hip hop version, STIB is encouraging all fans to cheer for our national team at the top of their voices. "The New Brabançonne is infused with Brussels youth and street culture, and gives new meaning to the vintage lyrics of our national anthem," explains Joost Berends, creative director at mortierbrigade, the communications agency responsible for the STIB campaigns.

The new version of the national anthem of Belgium is a surprising musical arrangement by composer duo poumtchak. "We have mixed modern with more orchestral sounds reminiscent of the original version of the Brabançonne. It is this contrast that makes the new version interesting," says Antoine Geluck of poumtchak.

A video clip in which Brussels supporters of all ages make their voices heard is now online. Among them, two rising stars of the Belgian hip-hop scene: Chibi Ichigo and Eddy Ape. "That sense of belonging! Everyone is cheering for the same thing, it's great!", says Chibi Ichigo.

"Absolutely. As a Belgian-Congolese, it is an honor for me to get a chance to represent the cultural diversity of my country. With this cover of the national anthem, it's like I've become a full-fledged Red Devil. WHAGWANN?!", says Eddy Ape energetically. ​ ​

Throughout the tournament, the New Brabançonne will blast through the speakers of the metro stations and a special bus in the Belgian colors that will drive around in Brussels. A strategy was also worked out for STIB's social media to get as many people as possible to participate. "The goal is also to spread the words of the Brabançonne as widely as possible. We may have modernized the arrangement, but of course the lyrics remain the same. We hope that this new version of our anthem will charm the people of Brussels... and the whole of Belgium!", says Barbara Foucart, Brand Marketing Manager at STIB.

You can discover the New Brabançonne on all streaming platforms and by following STIB on social media.
​​
​You can discover the New Brabançonne by following STIB on social media, on Youtube and soon on all streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple muzic, Deezer, etc.). In addition, the campaign consists of digital OOH in the STIB stations and special buses in the Belgian colors will be driving around.